The Ghurka by Harry Riley Poem by David Page- aka Harry Riley

Come and fight for us they said!
Forget about the plow
Forget about your village life
Forget about the misery and the pain
Forget about your childhood ways
Forget about the life you lived at home
Come and fight for us they said!
You're young and fit
You have the chance to be with us
To fight the foe...just as your father did
A medal waits for you my lad
You'll live with us, and wine and dine
A prince among the men!
Come and fight with us they said!
You'll take the risks as we all do
You'll see the world and all for free!
You'll be among the brave
And we will call you brother
You'll never know a better life
And if you fall we'll all be proud
That once we knew you well
Come and fight with us they said!
And we will show you how
But do not think when you grow old
And all your deeds were mighty
That you had earned a soldier's right
To come back home to Blighty
I was a lucky man they said!
As standing by my grave
I would not know the insult
That a Grateful Nation could bestow
Upon a simple soldier
He gave his all and more besides
He fought and fell
And now we do not have to help
A simple soldier Gurkha
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